Lawmakers Say Wright-Patt and Greater Dayton Area are Uniquely Qualified to Carry Out Mission
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH-10) was joined by U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today to lead the entire Ohio Congressional delegation in urging the Pentagon to locate the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator (HPSI) Organization at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. In a letter to U.S. Secretary of the Air Force, Heather Wilson, the lawmakers said Wright-Patt is uniquely qualified to handle the new mission, and it could mean an additional 400 plus jobs in Ohio.
Wright-Patt’s highly qualified workforce support the Air Force’s critical national security mission and the base is further supported by the broader Dayton defense community, which is full of engineering and contracting specialists. Lawmakers made the case that Dayton’s research industry and universities have long been the center for developing, acquiring, and sustaining the next level of air superiority to counter US adversaries and, therefore, locating HPSI at Wright-Patt would be the best choice for the Air Force.
“I was proud to lead this letter to Secretary Wilson with the support of the entire Ohio delegation,” said Congressman Turner. “We can all agree that Wright-Patterson Air Force Base’s location and workforce makes it uniquely qualified to execute this mission that is critical to our national security.”
“Based on the criteria used during the strategic basing process, we believe WPAFB’s workforce makes the base the logical location for HPSI. The basing process specifically requires acquisition professionals who are Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certified with tactical fighter support experience, and WPAFB’s workforce of engineers, programs managers, logistics managers, and contracting personnel would provide HPSI with an exceptional staff,” the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers who signed the letter to the Air Force include: U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rob Portman (R-OH), Rep. Mike Turner, Rep. Steve Stivers, Rep. Dave Joyce, Rep. Bob Gibbs, Rep. Bob Latta, Rep. Steve Chabot, Rep. Warren Davidson, Rep. Bill Johnson, Rep. Jim Renacci, Rep. Joyce Beatty, Rep. Marcia Fudge, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Brad Wenstrup, Rep. Jim Jordan, and Rep. Tim Ryan.
A copy of their letter to the Air Force appears below and can be found here:
Dear Secretary Wilson,
We write to express our support to locate the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator (HPSI) Organization at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB).
Based on the criteria used during the strategic basing process, we believe WPAFB’s workforce makes the base the logical location for HPSI. The basing process specifically requires acquisition professionals who are Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certified with tactical fighter support experience, and WPAFB’s workforce of engineers, programs managers, logistics managers, and contracting personnel would provide HPSI with an exceptional staff.
WPAFB is a unique base with the Air Force Material Command and the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) headquarters. The men and women who work there have mastered specific skills related to the acquisition of all major airframes and the research and development of engines, and munitions. This highly technical workforce is distinctively qualified to oversee the integrated acquisition process for the F-35 program. The men and women at WPAFB support the Air Force’s national security mission and are supported by the broader Dayton defense community’s exceptional engineering and contracting specialists. Just south of WPAFB is the Midwestern campus for the Defense Acquisition University, that and Dayton’s research industry and universities have long been the center for developing, acquiring, and sustaining the next level of air superiority to counter our adversaries and locating HPSI at WPAFB makes sense.
One of the other criteria listed in the basing process is foreign partner presence and foreign military sales expertise. The Air Force Security Assistance and Cooperation Directorate (AFSAC), housed within AFLCMC, carries out the critical foreign military sales mission. Our allies rely on the qualified program managers and acquisition personnel at who execute these strategic programs. Additionally, HPSI would benefit from being co-located with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), which has developed critical technology integral to the F-35’s success. AFRL together with the AFLCMC, would be able to provide critical science and technology assistance and insights to HPSCI’s acquisition workforce.
WPAFB exceeds key criteria listed in the strategic basing process, specifically the capacity requirements for space, housing, and parking, and the relative low cost of construction. The greater Dayton region is home to exceptional educational programs that continue to develop engineering and acquisition professionals, who would enhance HPSI.
Thank you for your consideration of WPAFB as the possible location for the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator.
Sincerely,
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown
U.S. Senator Rob Portman
U.S. Representative Mike Turner
U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur
U.S. Representative Tim Ryan
U.S. Representative Jim Jordan
U.S. Representative Bob Latta
U.S. Representative Steve Chabot
U.S. Representative Bill Johnson
U.S. Representative Bob Gibbs
U.S. Representative Steve Stivers
U.S. Representative Jim Renacci
U.S. Representative Brad Wenstrup
U.S. Representative Joyce Beatty
U.S. Representative David Joyce
U.S. Representative Warren Davidson
U.S. Representative Marcia Fudge
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